Contemporary Australian industry rail standards did not include structural requirements for cab doors, or other performance-based requirements, that addressed the protection of train crew in the case of vehicle overturn.
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) has amended the appropriate standard to address scenarios similar to this accident and have included appropriate mitigation requirements for the protection of train crew in the case of vehicle overturn. This safety issue is therefore assessed as adequately addressed.
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board advised that in response to this safety issue it will review AS 7520.1 Body Structural Requirements – Locomotive.
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board advised that the relevant standards (AS7522 – Access & Egress and AS7520.1 – Body Structural Requirements – Locomotive) are already included within our 2024/25 Work Plan, and are scheduled to commence next month. Depending upon the complexity and the interest and responses from the Public Consultation process, we expect the reviews to be completed by early 2025.
Action satisfactory and continue to monitor progress.
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board advised that the review of the relevant standards (AS7522 – Access & Egress and AS7520.1 – Body Structural Requirements – Locomotive) has commenced and the scope of change includes findings from the said ATSB report. The project is progressing well, once the drafting is completed, the product will be made available for public consultation.
Action satisfactory and continue to monitor progress.
Based on this investigation, the following standard was selected and included in the work plan for review.
The updates focused on influencing future designs of primarily locomotives and passenger rolling stock by:
The updated standards were published in June 2025. https://www.rissb.com.au/products/as-7520-1-rolling-stock-body-structural-requirements-part-1-locomotive/
The key changes made to AS 7520.1 include the following:
The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) has amended the appropriate standard to address scenarios similar to this accident and have included appropriate mitigation requirements for the protection of train crew in the case of vehicle overturn. This safety issue is therefore assessed as adequately addressed.
